Convertible dust pan

ABSTRACT

A dust pan apparatus for receiving sweepings therein and useable as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an elongated rod like member. The dust pan apparatus comprises a base member. The base member has a first end for receiving sweepings. A back member is engageable with a second end of the base member and a pair of radially opposed side walls, each of the radially opposed side walls are engageable adjacent a bottom surface with radially opposed sides of the base member and each of the radially opposed side walls further are engageable with radially opposed side edges of the back member. There is, further, a means disposed on the dust pan apparatus for removable engagement with such elongated rod like member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an aid for house cleaning, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a convertible dust pan that can be used as is or attached to a vertical member in order to provide a dust pan that does not require a person to bend to over to use the dust pan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In normal house cleaning dust pans are probably one of the most widely used items to assist the cleaning person to collect sweepings from a floor. Normally dust pans have a handle that is attached to the collecting portion of the pan and the user bends over to hole the pan against the floor and sweep the particles into the pan. The bending to perform a simple chore can be very difficult for some elderly or partially infirm persons.

Some dust pans have been made in which the pan is attached to a vertical rod so that the cleaning person does not have to bend over to hold the dust pan. In this manner the cleaning person can be essentially erect to perform the sweeping chore. However, some of these can become unwieldy in some operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a dust pan apparatus for receiving sweepings therein and useable as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an elongated rod like member. The dust pan apparatus comprises a base member. The base member has a first end for receiving sweepings. A back member is engageable with a second end of the base member and a pair of radially opposed side walls, each of the radially opposed side walls are engageable adjacent a bottom surface with radially opposed sides of the base member and each of the radially opposed side walls further are engageable with radially opposed side edges of the back member. There is, further, a means disposed on the dust pan apparatus for removable engagement with such elongated rod like member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a dust pan apparatus that can be used with an elongated rod like member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan apparatus that can be used as a separate unit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan apparatus that is removeably engageable with the elongated rod member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan apparatus which is easy to use.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust pan apparatus which is relatively lightweight.

In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of particularity above, it should be both noted and understood that a number of other important objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the dust pan apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dust pan apparatus as seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 1 when used as a separate unit.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 1 when used as a separate unit.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the dust pan apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the dust pan apparatus as seen in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 5 when used as a separate unit.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the dust pan as seen in FIG. 5 when used as a separate unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that for the sake of clarity in understanding the invention, identical components with identical functions have been designated with identical reference numerals throughout the drawing Figures.

Illustrated in the drawing Figures is a dust pan apparatus, generally designated 10 for receiving sweepings therein and useable as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an elongated rod like member 22. Such dust pan apparatus 10 comprises a base member 2. The base member 2 has a first end for receiving sweepings. There is a back member 4 that is engageable with a second end of the base member 2. There is, further, a pair of radially opposed side walls 6,8. Each of these radially opposed side walls 6,8 are engageable adjacent a bottom surface with radially opposed sides of base member 2 and each of the radially opposed side walls 6,8 are also engageable with radially opposed side edges of the back member 4.

A means, generally designated 20, is disposed on the dust pan apparatus 10 for removable engagement with such elongated rod like member 22.

The elongated rod like member 22 includes a first means 24 engageable with a first end of the elongated rod like member 22 for gripping the elongated rod like member 22 during use. There is a second means 26 that is one of formed integrally with the elongated rod like member 22 as a single piece or is engageable as a separate piece at a first end thereof with a second end of the elongated rod like member 22 and extending outwardly therefrom. A substantially stationary third means 28 is engageable with and disposed closely adjacent an intersection of the second end of the elongated rod like member 22 and the first end of the second means 26. The substantially stationary third means 28 being positioned for supporting and pivoting the dust pan apparatus 10.

According to an embodiment of the invention such substantially stationary third means 28 is positioned substantially perpendicular to the second means 26 on an underside of the second means 26. It is also presently preferred that such substantially stationary third means 28 have plastic caps 52 to cover each end portion of the substantially stationary third means 28. It is also preferred that first means 24 include a rubber grip.

In such dust pan apparatus 10 the base member 2 is slidingly engageable with an underside of the second means 26. According to the embodiments of the invention the means 20 on the dust pan apparatus 10 for removable engagement is further engageable with at least one of the second means 26 and the stationary third means 28.

According to one embodiment of the invention such means 20 for removable engagement is engageable with each of the elongated rod member 22 and the second means 26 as is evident in FIGS. 1 and 2. In an alternate embodiment of the invention as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 such means 20 for removable engagement is engageable with each of the second means 26 and the substantially stationary third means 28.

Such means 20 for removable engagement includes a hinged bracket 32 that is disposed on an upper surface of the radially opposed side members 6,8 of the dust pan apparatus 10 closely adjacent the back member 4. The hinged bracket 32 being removeably engageable with such elongated rod member 22. The hinged bracket 32 is used as a handle member for the dust pan apparatus 10 when not engaged with such elongated rod member 22 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. When used in conjunction with the elongated rod like member 22, the arm 34 of the hinged bracket 32 snaps on to the elongated rod member 22.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention such means 20 for removable engagement includes an arm 42 is engageable with the back member 4 of the dust pan apparatus 10. Such arm 42 has a circular projection 44 on a bottom portion of the arm 42 for being removable engagement with the substantially stationary third means 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8. Such arm 42 is used as a handle member for the dust pan apparatus 10 when not engaged with such elongated rod member 10.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A dust pan apparatus for receiving sweepings therein and useable as at least one of a hand held unit and as an attachment to an elongated rod like member, said dust pan apparatus comprising: (a) a base member, said base member having a first end for receiving sweepings; (b) a back member engageable with a second end of said base member; (c) a pair of radially opposed side walls, each of said radially opposed side walls engageable adjacent a bottom surface with radially opposed sides of said base member and each of said radially opposed side walls further engageable with radially opposed side edges of said back member; and (d) a means disposed on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement with such elongated rod like member.
 2. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dust pan is used with an elongated rod like member, said elongated rod like member includes: (a) a first means engageable with a first end of said elongated rod like member for gripping said rod like member during use; (c) a second means one of formed integrally with said elongated rod like member as a single piece and engageable as a separate piece at a first end thereof with a second end of said elongated rod like member and extending outwardly therefrom.
 3. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said elongated rod like member further includes a substantially stationary third means engageable with and disposed closely adjacent an intersection of said second end of said elongated rod like member and said first end of said second means, said substantially stationary third means being positioned for supporting and pivoting said apparatus.
 4. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base member of said dust pan apparatus is slidingly engageable with an underside of said second means.
 5. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement is further engageable with at least one of said second means and said stationary third means.
 6. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement is engageable with each of said elongated rod member and said second means.
 7. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said dust pan apparatus is engageable with each of said second means and said substantially stationary third means.
 8. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means on said dust pan apparatus for removable engagement includes a hinged bracket disposed on an upper surface of said radially opposed side members closely adjacent said back member, said hinged bracket being removably engageable with such elongated rod member.
 9. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hinged bracket disposed on an upper surface of said radially opposed side members closely adjacent said back member is used as a handle member for said dust pan apparatus when not engaged with such elongated rod member.
 10. The dust pan apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein an arm of said hinged bracket snaps on to such elongated rod member.
 11. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein a base member of said dust pan apparatus is slidingly engageable with an underside of said second means.
 12. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said dust pan apparatus further includes an arm disposed at a back end of said dust pan.
 13. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein said arm has a circular projection on a bottom portion of said arm for being removable engagement with said substantially stationary third means.
 14. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said substantially stationary third means is positioned substantially perpendicular to said second means on an underside of said second means.
 15. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said substantially stationary third means has plastic caps to cover each end portion of said substantially stationary third means.
 16. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first means at least includes a rubber grip.
 17. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dust pan apparatus further includes an arm disposed at a back end of said dust pan.
 18. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein said arm disposed at a back end of said dust pan apparatus is used as a handle member for said dust pan apparatus when not engaged with such elongated rod member. 